Izzy Stradlin Explains Absence from Guns N’ Roses Reunion Tour Lineup

Following Guns N’ Roses vocalist Axl Rose’s vague explanation of why the band’s original guitarist Izzy Stradlin is not onstage for the Not in this Lifetime reunion tour, Stradlin has made the scenario perfectly clear.

“They didn’t want to split the loot equally. Simple as that. Moving right along…” he tweeted.

In in interview on September 6 with Globo, Rose said Stradlin was supposed to be on the tour, but flaked out. “I don’t even know what to say,” Rose said. “We make arrangements, and then he goes and does other things. With Izzy, you never know what to expect.”

The Not in This Lifetime tour has brought Rose back together with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan for the first time since 1993. Original drummer Steven Adler was also scheduled to play the shows, but had to pull out because he needed back surgery. He recently joined Guns onstage for shows in Cincinnati, Nashville and Los Angeles.

“Steven did join us [on a couple of dates],” Rose said. “At the same time, I have no idea. When this started, Steven had just had back surgery and stuff, so I don’t have any idea about that.”

Though Stradlin opted out of the tour, he hasn’t been a complete stranger to the Guns camp since his 1991 departure. In 1993 he played five shows as fill-in when guitarist Gilby Clarke broke his wrist and he joined the band for a European tour in 2006 and played five shows with them 2012.

Outside the band, Stradlin has released 11 solo albums. His most recent record, Wave Of Heat, came out in 2010.